VPRI Team Profiles

I am the Executive Director of the VP Research & Innovation portfolio.  I work with our team on all manner of administrative, policy, human resources, budgetary and other matters, and advise the VP and AVPs on a range of operational and strategic issues affecting the portfolio.  Together with the VP and AVPs, I support and facilitate the work of the VPRI portfolio in delivering efficient, effective, and compliant research services to UBC scholars and researchers.

Contact me if:

You wish to know more about the VPRI portfolio, what we do, and how we might be able to support your research and scholarship.

greg.martyn@ubc.ca
604-827-1439

I provide executive-level support to the VP Research & Innovation, Gail Murphy. My responsibilities include:

• Strategic management of the time and commitments of the VPRI
• Coordination of the VPRI's travel arrangements
• Office management and administrative matters
• Secretary to advisory and other committees and coordination of materials and presentations

Contact me if:

You have a request for an appointment with the VP Research & Innovation, strategic enquiries related to the VPRI and VPRI portfolio, submissions on behalf of the VPRI for a variety of meetings, including UBC Board of Governors, Senate and Executive Meetings and/or Committees.

elise.vredenbregt@ubc.ca
604-822-0233

I provide executive-level support to the Associate Vice President, Research & Innovation, Rachel Fernandez and Director, VPRI Portfolio, Greg Martyn. My responsibilities include:

• Management of the schedules and commitments of the AVPRI and Director
• Administrative support for AVPRI, Director and VPRI team including coordination of travel arrangements, preparation of reports and briefs pertaining to the VPRI portfolio, operational and financial processing and special event coordination
• Reception for the Office of the Vice President, Research & Innovation

Contact me if:

You have a request for an appointment with the AVP Research & Innovation, Rachel Fernandez, or Director of VPRI Portfolio, Greg Martyn

maureen.collins@ubc.ca
tel: 604-827-2983

I provide executive-level support to the Associate VP Research & Innovation, Matthew Evenden, and perform logistical and administrative tasks required for specific projects, initiatives and events for senior staff in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. My responsibilities include:

• Strategic management of the time and commitments of the AVPRI
• Coordination of the AVPRI’s travel arrangements
• Corresponding on behalf of the AVPRI as required
• Researching information and preparation of reports and summaries for the AVPRI
• Administrative support across the VPRI portfolio

Hanne is currently on leave.

I provide executive-level support to the Associate VP Research & Innovation, Matthew Evenden, and perform logistical and administrative tasks required for specific projects, initiatives and events for senior staff in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. My responsibilities include:

• Strategic management of the time and commitments of the AVPRI
• Coordination of the AVPRI’s travel arrangements
• Corresponding on behalf of the AVPRI as required
• Researching information and preparation of reports and summaries for the AVPRI
• Oversee the development and implementation of special events related to the senior managers portfolios

Contact me if:

You have a request for an appointment with the AVP Research & Innovation, Matthew Evenden.

vivian.lee@ubc.ca
604-827-0057

I work with colleagues across the university to highlight UBC’s research and innovation activities and accomplishments. I also promote the support services and initiatives available through the VPRI portfolio to UBC’s research community. I provide strategic and tactical communications support to units in the VP Research & Innovation portfolio and work with multiple research excellence clusters to establish their web presence.

Contact me if:

You are looking for information on UBC research and innovation; wanting to promote a UBC research story to external audiences; needing to communicate research-related information to an internal audience; part of the VPRI portfolio looking for communications support; or a research excellence cluster interested in developing a website.

jamie.hall@ubc.ca
604-822-1267

As part of the VPRI communications team, I promote the research activities and accomplishments of UBC with a specific focus on Innovation UBC. I create and curate content for the Innovation UBC website, and provide communications support to the Innovation UBC team and other units in the VP Research & Innovation portfolio as required.

Contact me if:

You are interested in promoting a UBC research or innovation story to an external audience, interested in communicating information about Innovation UBC to an external or internal audience, or a staff member in a VPRI portfolio unit looking for communications support.

clare.kiernan@ubc.ca
604-827-1870

As part of the VPRI communications team, I work with colleagues across the university to promote UBC’s research activities and accomplishments. I help to manage multiple websites including the Research website. I also provide website support to the Research Excellence Clusters. I provide technical and communications support to units in the VP Research & Innovation portfolio, and I am involved in all internal and external communications activities within the VPRI Office.

Contact me if:

You are a staff member in a VPRI portfolio unit looking for communications support, a member of a Research Excellence Cluster looking for support with your website, interested in promoting a UBC research or innovation story to an external audience or communicating research information to an internal audience.

ariane.madden@ubc.ca
604-827-5399

As the institutional programs manager, I collaborate extensively with units across the university, offering support and guidance relating to institutional programs that play a pivotal role in advancing institutional objectives such as the Canada Research Chairs, Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Canada 150 Research Chairs, and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. My role involves managing and supporting recruitment and application processes, candidate onboarding, and institutional reporting for these diverse academic initiatives; it also involves supporting initiatives to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion principles within the administration of these programs.

Contact me if:

You are seeking information or services or have any questions about the Canada Research Chairs program and other institutional chairs programs.

jay.shankar@ubc.ca or ubc.crc@ubc.ca 

I work closely with colleagues across the VPRI and in other portfolios to implement and advance strategic projects and priorities. I contribute to the design and evaluation of strategic initiatives such as UBC’s Research Excellence Clusters and Collaborative Research Mobility Awards, and help lead initiatives to embed principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in VPRI programs and services. In addition, I help coordinate executive-level administration of UBC’s applications to large-scale federal research funding programs.

Contact me if:

You are looking for information on UBC's strategic research initiatives, the VPRI’s research funding programs and services, or institution-level resources required for large-scale institutional funding programs.

leslie.grad@ubc.ca
604-827-4550

I am the manager of UBC's internal research grant competitions. I work with the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI) leadership team to plan and implement internal research competitions including Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters program, Collaborative Research Mobility Awards, Research Facility Support grants, the Community-University Engagement Support Fund, and other strategic programs such as First Fridays. I liaise with faculty, the Office of Research Services (ORS), and the Institutional Programs Office (IPO) to set up successful internal grant awards. I also work closely with faculty to report on the outcomes and evaluate the impact of the funding programs.

Contact me if:

You are looking for information about applying to internal research competitions, setting up internal research awards, reporting on award outcomes, or accessing central support services related to your internal research awards.

stacey.herzer@ubc.ca
604-827-2379

The Research Security team provides advice on how to navigate various research and/or national security requirements while maintaining as open and collaborative environment as possible. As Director, Research Security for UBC, I work to build awareness and understanding about guidelines such as the Government of Canada’s National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships. I also provide advice to UBC leadership and internal clients regarding research security-related matters and facilitate UBC’s engagement with external stakeholders relevant to this subject.

Contact me if you:

• Have questions about what “research security” is;
• Need advice regarding safeguarding your research;
• Are curious about Canada’s National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships and how they impact you;
• Would like advice about whether specific partners could pose research security risks; and
• Are unsure about how to proceed with potentially sensitive partnerships.

akshay.singh@ubc.ca or research.security@ubc.ca

604-827-0042

I provide support and advice to UBC researchers on the principles and practices of research security policies and guidelines as implemented by the Government of Canada. I work collaboratively with faculty and staff to build an understanding of how to safeguard research at UBC.

Contact me if you:

• have questions on what research security is and how it impacts you and/or your research team(s);
• have questions about specific partnerships you are considering; or
• would like assistance to navigate policy requirements and guidelines.

iris.cheung@ubc.ca or research.security@ubc.ca

I provide support and advice to UBC researchers on the principles and practices of research security policies and guidelines as implemented by the Government of Canada. I work collaboratively with faculty and staff to build an understanding of how to safeguard research at UBC.

Contact me if you:

• have questions on what research security is and how it impacts you and/or your research team(s);
• have questions about specific partnerships you are considering; or
• would like assistance to navigate policy requirements and guidelines.

samuel.wollenberg@ubc.ca or research.security@ubc.ca

I play a strategic role in achieving the unit’s mission to support researchers and scholars in establishing meaningful connections beyond academia to inform positive societal change.

Contact me if:

You are seeking support to establish research connections and partnerships, need guidance to plan, implement or evaluate your knowledge exchange activities, have questions about upcoming knowledge exchange events and workshops, or wish to share your experience in knowledge exchange.

gen.creighton@ubc.ca
kx.support@ubc.ca
604-827-1009

I develop learning and development opportunities to support UBC students and faculty researchers in building their capacity in knowledge exchange (Kx) activities and strategies. I work collaboratively with a wide range of partners to enable a supportive environment for Kx practices and identify Kx opportunities for UBC research.

Contact me if:

You are interested to learn more about upcoming Kx workshops and training programs; want to access Kx resources for specific Kx training needs, or need guidance on incorporating Kx into your research.

alia.januwalla@ubc.ca
kx.support@ubc.ca

I provide knowledge exchange supports for UBC researchers to foster connections and engagement with non-academic stakeholders to increase research uptake and impact. I work collaboratively with staff and students, and external partners to co-develop, implement and manage various university wide knowledge exchange initiatives.

Contact me if:

You are interested to learn about knowledge exchange supports available at UBC; have questions about upcoming knowledge exchange events and workshops, or need guidance on your knowledge exchange plans.

ugen.lhazin@ubc.ca
kx.support@ubc.ca

I am the Managing Director of Innovation Partnerships within the VPRI portfolio. I work with the team, on the one hand to help recognize, foster, and facilitate innovation development, and on the other, to promote and grow deep research-oriented relationships with partner organizations. We work hand-in-hand with the other driving groups of Innovation UBC to find ways of moving research into impact. In addition, I am the UBC Concierge for the Canadian Digital Technology Supercluster - connecting researchers, companies, and projects.

Contact me if:

You have innovation ideas you'd like to explore, partner organizations you'd like to create or deepen relationships with, or if you want to take advantage of the supercluster opportunity to further your research and engagement.

iain.begg@ubc.ca
778-855-1757

I leverage familiarity with UBC's expansive life-sciences research capacity to develop innovative research collaborations with external organizations and to foster a culture of innovation-driven partnerships.

Contact me if:

You are an organization interested in partnering with UBC researchers, or you are a UBC researcher with an interest in research partnerships with external organizations.

karen.k.chu@ubc.ca
672-999-3016

I bring design and research expertise in the digital technology sector to support innovative research collaborations between the UBC research community and external organizations.

Contact me if:

You are an organization or a UBC researcher interested in a collaborative partnership exploring topics involving digital technology or product development of devices.

sabrina.hauser@ubc.ca
604-561-4124

I work closely with industry organizations and UBC researchers on establishing innovation partnerships and navigating our UBC community. Areas I can help with include exploring research partnerships, collaborative research funds, engagement, talent pipelines, and any other initiatives that further research discoveries to breakthrough innovations.

Contact me if:

You are an organization or a UBC researcher interested in discussing innovation collaborations or have general questions on how UBC can help accelerate your R&D strategy.

 

I support innovation translation and partnership development between UBC researchers, private sector and external organizations. I support the research areas of Sustainability, Climate Change and Natural Resources (including the food, agriculture, aquatic, forestry and clean technology sectors).

Contact me if: 

You are interested in connecting and working with UBC researchers, external organizations, and potential new ventures being built at UBC.

robbin.simao@ubc.ca
778-874-9769